Rolls-Royce Initiates Recall to Safeguard Ghost’s Instrument Cluster Glass from Shattering During Crashes

Around 1,305 Rolls-Royce Ghosts are subject to a new recall aimed at mitigating the risk of the instrument cluster glass breaking in a collision. The luxury automaker had been aware of this concern since 2020 following internal high-speed crash tests.

It was on May 26, 2020, that Rolls-Royce first discovered this potential issue during a side-impact test. Subsequent engineering reviews showed that the single layer of tempered glass in the instrument cluster could break upon impact. Videos captured during the testing demonstrated glass particles in the car's interior. A regulatory review revealed that while the glass met legal criteria, Rolls-Royce concluded that the chance of passenger injury was low, opting not to recall the cars initially.

Fast-forward to April 2022, the company revisited its production process and switched to double-layer laminated glass for the Ghost's instrument cluster, with these modifications becoming standard as of December 2022.

Given this upgrade, Rolls-Royce reassessed its earlier risk evaluations. Taking a more cautious stance this time, the automaker has now decided to initiate a recall for Ghost models produced between February 17, 2020, and December 8, 2022. The recall will serve to further mitigate risks associated with the glass breaking and potentially injuring vehicle occupants.

While there have been no known incidents involving this specific issue, Rolls-Royce plans to contact affected owners by November 13. The company will apply a protective coating over the existing instrument cluster glass to prevent any fragments from posing a danger to the driver in the event of an accident.